Figure Studies [verso]

Art Historical Context

Perino del Vaga’s *Figure Studies [verso]* offers a fascinating glimpse into the working methods of a leading 16th-century Italian artist. Active during the Mannerist period, Perino trained under Raphael and absorbed the graceful, elongated forms that defined the era. Created around 1530–1540, this sheet of pen-and-brown-ink drawings on laid paper reveals the artist’s careful observation of the human body, likely made in preparation for larger frescoes or paintings. The medium itself highlights Renaissance drawing practices. The quick, fluid lines demonstrate how artists used inexpensive paper to explore poses and anatomy before committing ideas to costly surfaces like plaster or panel. A red-chalk line running across the center suggests the sheet may have been folded or used on both sides, underscoring its practical role in the studio. Acquired by the National Gallery of Art through the Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund, this modest yet intimate work invites visitors to appreciate the private, exploratory side of artistic creation that ultimately shaped the grand public monuments of Mannerist Rome.

About the Artist

Perino del Vaga · 1501–1547

Italian artist. Comment on works: Religious